Chopping "in" off that first highlighted word above often seems unpleasant to the Christian participant. Still, God has a purpose in stripping His own of any buffer they might use to hinder their conformity to the image of Jesus. Two words that speak volumes to this concept are brokenness and repentance. I've heard one pastor say that if repentance describes the 180 degree change in direction we make on the highway of our attitude and behavior, from our sinful ways to God, then brokenness is the off ramp. Brokenness is the place where we get off, the place where God halts us and stops our progress in that destructive direction. And while we definitely experience these things along the pathway leading to our conversion, these same feelings and attitudes must likewise remain to further catalyze growth and development in Christ.
Rather than acting as a one time phenomenon, authentic believers living Spirit-filled lives will to some degree daily exhibit brokenness and repentance, as they grow in their understanding and awareness of their own sinfulness in light of God's holiness. In other words, the clearer one perceives God's holiness, the more their own lack of said holiness becomes apparent. The Bible on multiple fronts illustrates this concept. But before I go to one particular passage let me introduce a movie clip I want to show from Finding Forrester.
To quickly set the stage, this 2000 American drama film revolves around the relationship between the two main characters, Jamal Wallace and William Forrester (played by Sean Connery). Both have a passion for prose, with Jamal fitting the mold of raw, talented, up and coming protege. Forrester (in the movie he's literally one of the greatest writers of the 20th century) recognizes Jamal's potential and endeavors to train and fine tune Jamal's natural ability. One of these training sessions is highlighted in the clip below, take a look:
I viewed Finding Forrester recently this past summer with Katy, after not having seen it since my high school days with my good buddy Cody Street. He might be the only one to get the following lines "And you're black!" or "You dog-eared them"...good times! Now I must admit that I did wear my socks inside out in high school prior to viewing this film, and once I saw this part I felt affirmed and assured the habit was well grounded. But only after this summer did I pick up on the connection between the type of writing Forrester was after in Jamal and the type of praying God is after in His children. Let's take a closer look.
If you caught Forrester's correlation between believing in lucky socks and praying don't be alarmed, totally not where I'm going with this! There are though a few parallels between his advice on writing and effective praying. Personally, I enjoy writing and about 90% of the praying I do is written. So if that's not the case with you, this may not hit home as much. But I'd still encourage you to give it a shot.
Did you hear Forrester say that "the first key to writing is to write". I think that's also so true of praying. Just like learning to ride a bike or how to swim, it's impossible through a correspondence course or online class. You learn as you go by actually doing it! And while we don't need to worry about writing first or second drafts to God, the advice Forrester gives about writing from the heart first is certainly applicable. Our hearts and minds can work in concert though, for the more we learn about God, the more we should come to love Him. Increased knowledge then serves as the firewood we load into the fireplace of our heart's affections as John Piper puts it, so that our passionate love for God can burn and flame all the more reverently, respectfully, and fearfully. Hence, these informed affections can be poured out to Him through praise and thanksgiving in our prayers.
Forrester models his method to young Jamal, and seems so comfortable and easy going as he's writing. The reason of course being that he's done it for so long. Likewise, have you ever heard someone pray and you could just tell by the weight and richness in their words that they walk close with the Lord...that him or her communes frequently and deeply with their Heavenly Father? One pastor I know describes hearing a seminary prof he had at DTS pray by saying "listening to his prayers was like stepping into heaven". Man wouldn't it be so sweet to have that kind of fellowship with God!
Once Jamal finds himself stuck, his pen without a course to plot, Forrester stimulates his creative juices by giving him a document that he himself wrote years prior. He explains "Start typing that, sometimes a simple rhythm of typing gets us from page one to page two...and when you begin to feel your own words, start typing them."
This principle especially I'd like to hone in on. Right around the time I viewed this film last summer, I began memorizing part of Psalm 25 and using it in such a way as Forrester describes. It was written by David soon before his death. This "man after God's own heart" can most definitely be counted on to teach us a thing or two about prayer. Over the past several months I've employed verses 4-15 primarily (neat coincidence that this 25th Psalm has been so huge for me leading up to my 25th birthday huh).
Psalm 25:4-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
6Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship[a] of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
I would encourage you to do the same thing as Jamal did, but take it one intense step further. Enmesh yourself in this passage, verse by verse, day by day. Pray these things, soak yourself in the truths he articulates! Like a see-saw, continually swing back and forth between dwelling upon God's steadfast love and faithfulness and your own inadequacy and sinfulness. Lean on Him, let His goodness and mercy overshadow your own guilt. Pray like David, who even after a lifetime of intimate fellowship with God, still above all else humbly desired that God lead, teach, instruct, and walk with him more deeply.
And when you begin to feel your own words, start praying them as well, but keep returning to these. The maze David was molded and shaped in was a course mapped out by God leading to David's utter dependence and trust in God, rather than himself.
Robert Robinson wrote the following hymn in his early 20's and it certainly is in line with David's heart in Psalm 25, even if this passage was not his primary motivation. I love the following version, enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdRKM7JnB3M&feature=related
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